“Marginalization” by Chandrakant Mallya

In a scale, both arms are equally important. If one of them tilts, the result is imbalance. Compare the scale to the society. A perfect society viewed from any angle, is impossibility. Turn the pages of human history—perfection was never there. It is reasonable to assume that it will never be there!   It can not be completely avoided either. Society at any given time has not existed and functioned without marginalization! Some of the definitions of marginalization are: â€Å"To relegate or confine to a lower or outer limit or edge, as of social standing.† â€Å"Marginalization (USA) refers to the overt or covert trends within societies whereby those perceived as lacking desirable traits or deviating from the group norms tend to be excluded by wider society and ostracized as undesirables.† Wing Leung describes A marginal person as â€Å"†¦one who does not belong†¦the marginal man†¦ [dwells] at the margin of two cultures and two societies†¦ [and possesses] a marginal mentality†¦ [with its] unresolved identity crises.† Louis Wirth speaking of minority groups thus: â€Å"A group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination.† This means, the more numerically dominant members, or the more prosperous section of the society gives unequal treatment leading to acts of social ostracism, acts of discrimination, leading to marginalization. In â€Å"Sula† Tony Morrison traces the lives of two black heroines. They grow together in a small Ohio town—well, that’s the only common point about them. Otherwise, they are poles apart. Their paths are totally divergent, obviously their thinking as well! Nel Wright chooses the normal life of a black woman marries and settles in the place of her birth. She is part of the tightly-knit black community. Sula Peace rejects this option outright. She escapes to a city, joins a college, and when she returns to her roots, she is a rebel. She decides to teach a lesson to the society that humiliated her in childhood. She mocks at the social norms, and she is a wanton sexual seductress. Her vicarious pleasure is depicted in her triumphant return to her village and she is extremely happy about the victory she scored by crossing the hurdles that she faced in her life due to the color of her skin. These two characters ably depict, with utmost sincerity to their own emotions, their suffering and enjoyment   in the light of various trials and tribulations that was part of their life and living. The Civil War in USA led to the physical liberation. The War for economic liberation began thereafter. In Sula Toni Morrison provides us with the real history lesson with the depiction of the black way of life, a society which still continues to be marginalized both from social and economic standpoints. â€Å"Through their girlhood years they share everything — perceptions, judgments, yearnings, secrets, even crime — until Sula gets out, out of the Bottom, the hilltop neighborhood where beneath the sporting life of the men hanging around the place in head rags and soft felt hares there hides a fierce resentment at failed crops, lost jobs, thieving insurance men, bug-ridden flour . . . at the invisible line that cannot be overstepped.†Ã‚   (Morison, 1973) Fences is the story of four generations of black Americans.   The torch of legacy of morals, attitudes, mores and patterns passes through stories. Troy Maxon is the principle character of the play. Being a black, the part of the marginalized society of America, how and why he had to scale down his dreams to adjust inside his run-down yard. The opening scene   Ã‚  begins with Troy Maxon and his trusted friend Jim Bono engaged in drinking and talking. The anguish of marginalization related victimization is evident, when he makes a formal compliant to his bosses, why only white men are permitted to drive garbage trucks for the waste disposal company. The deep impact of marginalization in Troy Maxon’s psyche is shown as he counsels his teenage son Cory Maxon when he is being actively recruited for a college football scholarship. His father discourages him, and tells him not to ignore other important responsibilities. Troy wants that his son should never haul garbage like him. Cory represents all the possibilities his father never had and the unmet dreams. Yet the father is unwilling to let the son go on the path chosen by him to improve his lot in life.   His apprehension is that the white-dominated sports will not let Cory progress, and break his heart. Troy had spent fifteen years in jail for robbery and murder, but he became an accomplished baseball player in the jail. After the release, when he could not get proper opportunities to display his skill, he is bitter and resentful at the chances lost because of the color of his skin. He wants to protect his son from facing such disappointments and turn cynical. It was due to marginalization that Troy’s life was full of difficulties, oppression coupled with bad luck. As a boy, due the abject poverty, he was denied education, he cannot even read. Marginalization is practiced all over the world, and it embraces humanity. In the Developed World, racial and ethnic minority groups stand out as the most marginalized. Then there are other classes like, the poor, the sick, the disabled, the obese, teenage unwed mothers, the elderly, the homosexuals and lesbians. These groups suffer from one form of marginalization or the other-unemployment, poverty, poor health facilities and lack of education and the like. How can we strive to end it? The question should be rather how we can mend it? The ending to marginalization can only be through mending the ways of the society. First of all, the affluent and the socially well placed members of the majority community should realize the grave injustice rendered to the affected society for centuries. Genuine repentance and willing acceptance to reform can only change the social structure. The change with-out can be achieved only through the change with-in. Society must have a will to change, and that is possible by the combined efforts of the government, social and spiritual organizations. It is high time that marginalization is given a ‘decent’ burial. References: Morrison, Toni, Sula: Excerpted from the book jacket: †¦ â€Å"In clear, dark, resonant language   †¦ .members.tripod.com/~bibliomania/archive3/morrison5.html – 9k –Retrieved on May 21, 2007.                                                                                                

Living Like a Weasel

A mind-changing unexpected encounter Didn't we all had one or several moments in life that made you see yourself, the way you live in a whole new perspective? That special moment where it felt like lightning struck you and you changed your perspective of life? For some of you might have been the birth of your child or the moving to a different country? To Dillard it was the unexpected encounter with a weasel. Annie Dillard was born in 1945 and it seems like she always had a thirst for reading, writing and overall literature.She studied literature and creative writing and has wrote several books, novels and essays and even won the Pulitzer Price for â€Å"Pilgrim at the Creek†. Thus I think it was really interesting to read one of her shorter works â€Å"Living Like a Weasel†, a story in which Annie Dillard describes her magical unexpected encounter with a Weasel in six parts. Dillard starts out by directly pointing to the ‘weasel topic' by introducing it with a sh ort 4 word sentence â€Å"A weasel is wild†(Diyanni, p. 97).She goes on with a question to get the readers' attention and let them be part of her journey, â€Å"Who knows what he thinks† (Diyanni, p. 97). A detailed description of a weasel's hunting habit follows. It almost come across as a beast in a horror movie and the adjectives intensify the mental image, â€Å"he bites his prey by the neck, either splitting the jugular vein at the throat or crunching the brain at the base of the skull†(Diyanni, p. 97). She uses the two comparisons of a rattle snake and a sticky label to enhance the image of the weasel that will never let go once it sunk its teeth in something.The first part creates a negative image of a wild weasel. In the second part Dillard explains why she knows all the previous stated facts in the introduction because she recently saw a weasel. After she briefly mentions this fact she guides us in to her world away from civilization. â€Å"Hollis Pond , †¦ also called Murray's Pond†. Her description is again very detailed, such as including the number 6 two times, â€Å"With six inches of water and six thousand lily pads†.Six is considered to be the most harmonious number, with â€Å"a loving and caring nature† (www. numerology. com) and underlines the cozy impression the reader gets when she describes the peaceful, to Dillard even magical pond, â€Å"from the distant shore they look like miracles itself, complete with miracle's nonchalance† (Diyanni, p. 98). Even though suburbia is a common term Dillard almost makes it seem like Hollis Pond is an own little world named suburbia, â€Å"This, mind you, suburbia† (Diyanni, p. 98), placed in the middle of civilization.However when you are there you feel like you are in a completely different place, where nothing of the rest of the world is noticable. She even defines frontiers of her â€Å"suburbia†, â€Å"there is a 55 mph highway at o ne end of the pond, and a pair of nesting wood ducks at the other† (Diyanni, p. 100). Furthermore Dillard repeats the number five twice, â€Å"It is a five-minute walk†, â€Å"55mph highway†. The number five symbolizes dynamic and energy, it represents the life style of every day's life, that is mostly hectic and fast, people do not rest and take in the moment.Dillard bans this hectic environment from her world, in which she is the queen. It seems like she is above it and sits on a throne-like bench, which is supported by several adjectives such as â€Å"upholstered bench†, â€Å"upper†, â€Å"plush jetty raised†,†watching the lily pads at my feet† (Diyanni, p. 99). Then all of a sudden she has an unexpected encounter with the weasel. Her upper dominant position is mentioned once more, â€Å"I was looking down at the weasel, who was looking up at me† (Diyanni, p. 99).The third part of Dillard's essay begins with the descrip tion of the weasel. However it is not nearly as negative as it was in the beginning but rather positive, â€Å"thin as a curve, a muscled ribbon, brown as fruitwood, soft furred† (Diyanni, p. 99). Both, human and animal, exchange glances and hold eye-contact for several seconds. For Dillard it seems to be a magical moment as if the two have a mutual, unspoken understanding and goes on with emphasizing this for her extremely special meeting.The weasel is the one to break off the eye contact, but Dillard tries to gain it again. This is the first clear moment where the theme wildness and necessity versus consciousness and choice comes up. For the weasel it was nothing special, it only checked if the human would harm it in any way. However due to the human's consciousness Dillard interprets a whole new meaning into this encounter, for a minute she was mentally connected with an wild animal. She even asks herself what a weasel might think and thus puts it on the same level as huma n.Part four continues with the change that the unexpected meeting has caused in Dillard. It seems like her mind switched and experienced an eye-opener. Now Dillard is aware of the fact that she should live life to the fullest, just like the weasel does â€Å"I would like to live as I should† (Diyanni, p. 100), that she needs to change her previous life style, â€Å"I would like to live as I should† (Diyanni, p. 100). Part five begins with regrets that she has about her life, â€Å"I missed my chance†. The whole two paragraphs are marked with ways she could life.She uses various metaphors and comparisons as if she was a weasel but those stylistic device do not necessarily explain how she wants to change her life style, but rather establishes the question of the social interaction and living with each other â€Å"Could two live under the wild rose†¦?†¦ We could you know. † She answers all questions in the second paragraph that she asked herself as ked in the first, â€Å" A weasel doesn't ‘attack' anything; a weasel lives as he is meant to† (Diyanni, p. 101) The sixth and last part is about Dillard's conviction, that the weasel's life can be used as an example.That you should free yourself from all consciousness and live in necessity, to open up and enjoy life, to put your inside and your feelings to the outside and strip down to the bones, â€Å"let your musky flesh fall off in shreds† (Diyanni, p. 101). I enjoyed reading this essay and for myself gained a different perspective off of it. However I think Dillard saw something that was not there. She interpreted a new life perspective into her encounter with a weasel. It is a good example of that human beings are superior to all other animals.We have consciousness and try to connect events and make sense out of them. We constantly look for change and strive for better. To me Dillard took it a notch to far with the mind connecting, however it made me think, it convinced me that sometimes that you need to grab life by its throat and take it all in without thinking too much, seize the day and once in a while, live a little mindless. References: Annie Dillard: Living like a Weasel in: Diyanni, Robert:50 Great Essays. 4th. New York City: Penguin Academics, 2010. Print. http://www. anniedillard. com/ http://www. numerology. com/numerology-numbers/6

Mathematics and statics for economists Statistics Project

Mathematics and statics for economists - Statistics Project Example The sample data for happiness is positively skewed which means that most people interviewed has a positive happiness level. The kurtosis of 15.41579212 shows that the probability of extreme values is less than for a level of happiness, and the values are wider spread around the mean of 4.820680628. The histogram gives a clear graphical representation of positive kurtosis and skewness. The data are concentrated to the left of the mean level of happiness representing a general positive level of happiness among the sample population. In a nutshell, the data is positively skewed but with a median of 5, the data is almost normally distributed considering that the mean is 4.820680628. From the Anova results above, the P value 0.00 while the significance level ÃŽ ±=0.05. The P value 0.00 The correlation results show that level of happiness and means of traveling to work exhibit a positive association. The correlation coefficient is 0.819346. This happiness and means of travelling travel in the same direction. The regression equation shows the relationship between happiness and means of travelling travel in the same direction. According to the regression line, an increase of means of travelling to work by one unit will increase the level of happiness 2.740298 when all factors are held constant. From the regression result, means of traveling to work positively influence the level of happiness. This means the two variables exhibit a positive relationship. The results according to the link above show that there effects of commuting to the level of happiness at

Hard water in Chemistry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hard water in Chemistry - Assignment Example C02 and water reacts with each other carbonic acid. Carbonic acid usually exists as a bicarbonate ion at a normal environmental pH.   (figure 1) . Extensive limestone deposits have been built up over the years by microorganism by taking up of this carbonic acid. Groundwater acquires calcium and bicarbonate ions and hence becomes "hard". If the bicarbonate ions are a lot then they may form a precipitate like that in pipes. (Figure 2)Temporary hardnessTemporary hardness is referred to such water that can lose its hardness by simply boiling it. Boiling water gives rise to the following reaction2 HCO3–  Ã¢â€ â€™ CO32–  + CO2CO32–  reacts with Calcium  or Magnesium  ions. This leads to the formation of a precipitate. This precipitate is actually calcium and magnesium carbonates which are insoluble in nature.Water that doesn’t lose it hardness by boiling is known to be permanently hard. This is mainly due to the presence of chloride or sulphate, that is, it contains anions. Traditional water softening is usually carried out through a process that is known as ion exchange. Ion exchange refers to the process in which chloride and sodium ions exchange places. These ions are fixed comparatively loosely to something called a zeolite. Zeolite may be understood referring to figure 3 in the appendix,Although they is quite some proof that electromagnetic devices may be useful in preventing the formation of scale.

See the attach file Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

See the attach file - Essay Example From this latter perspective, a woman with no children and based on her religious beliefs does not seek medical care for herself, her family, or friends is causing harm by not seeking medical advice, although her act of not having children should be allowed. Mill offers several reasons why experiments of living should be allowed. He offers the infallibility argument, in which he contends that society, as it is, is not perfect and the only manner in which society can move forward is by allowing for experiments of life (Gray 52). Natural selection and the forces that drive it need change to occur if they are to work. The selective process would only allow the production of happiness. Whereby, if there is a greater population of people living happily under a particular method, this method will spread to other areas. Since a specific way of life could be an improvement on the way people live; no way of life should be forbidden or suppressed (Gray 52). In the case of a woman with no child ren refusing medical help for anyone, her life cannot bring any happiness and, as such, cannot spread. This way of life will not improve anyone’s life, including hers. ... Ways of life that are flawed, rendering them undesirable as the common rule, rather than being the exception, do possess merits and valuable ideas. Ideas that can benefit society can only be achieved when society allows practical testing and trial of these ways of life (Gray 54). Therefore, even disagreeable living experiments like that of this woman should be allowed in the case of not bearing children. This partly true argument can be furthered through the contention that even a way of life that has no tangible benefits for anyone involved must be allowed. This is because it will act as a highlight to the benefits of other ways of life (Gray 55). Only when society tries out a way of life in reality that it can be judged to have no merit. Hence, it acts as evidence of the manner in which its guiding principles work practically. For example, the woman who refuses medical care for everyone may be suggestive of life that is permanently full of divine grace and hope, which is a perfect aim to work for. An experiment of living like this one offers vivid evidence that the goal it aims for is flawed. John Mill also argues that the fact that the human race is made of diverse groups and cultures, is proof that society should encourage diverse modes of living. All persons possess different characters and, therefore, all persons have diverse ways of life, which are best for them. In John Mill’s words, â€Å"The same mode of life is a healthy excitement to one, keeping all his faculties of action and enjoyment in their best order, while to another it is a distracting burden which suspends or crushes all internal life† (Mill 44). Where there is an attempt to

Trainspotting by Danny Boyle, 1996 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trainspotting by Danny Boyle, 1996 - Essay Example This paper will discuss Boyle’s use of parallel editing. According to visual arts and film studies, parallel editing is a technique whereby two or more scenes happen simultaneously, but in different locations co-currently (Smith 6). In some cases, this technique is also known as cross-cutting. In most cases, when the scenes are simultaneous, they culminate in a single area whereby the parties are involved in a confrontation. Cross or parallel editing is used to create suspense hence, adding interest and excitement to a film scene. In this case, Masahiro Hirakubo was responsible for editing this film. Boyle employed the parallel editing technique in several scenes, in the film. Trainspotting the film captures the insolent and amoral intelligence of Welsh as portrayed in the cult novel by Irvine Welsh. The beginning of the film contains severe editing hence; the audience notices that the film significantly affected Britain and it did not dent America. The most probable reason why the movie did not affect America was that it was too apparent for those conservatives. The scenes in the film clearly assert that Trainspotting is the most liberal film that is connected to drug-related issues. Boyle juggles parallel character strands and juxtaposes several images (Smith 23). The film centres on the youthful disaffection with the verve of an exemplary pop culture. According to the events presented in Trainspotting, Boyle developed the technique of using cross editing to provoke suspense. In the introductory section, McGregor and Bremner were running down Princes Street after they were being pursued by security guards. However, after being sober from the induced state, McGregor decides to quit heroin (Smith 34). Later on, he decides to buy opium rectal suppositories and decides to undergo withdrawal in a small hotel. However, when he is close to his friends in a sober state he feels like an outcast. He later goes to the bar and has sex with a woman called Diane (Macdonald) who later refuses to let him sleep in his house.     

Managing Conflict in Interpersonal Communication Essay

Managing Conflict in Interpersonal Communication - Essay Example This may not be common to all individuals because of the differences in our beliefs but truly speaking, granting pardon to an individual can really yield great results in enhancing positive communication. It is therefore a very important principle in management as it fosters positive communication. In order to show grace, there is a need to sometimes show willingness to demonstrate forgiveness and excuse the convicts’ actions. It is an act that comes out of an individual’s generous spirit and not out of provocation of rules and societal expectation. Grace isn’t demonstrated because we should but because of the will to grant it unconditionally. To fully understand the concept of grace let’s consider this scenario that two persons agree to share responsibilities and duties and on a particular day, when one of the persons is expected to perform his duties skips doing so because he realizes that he has a lot of work in office. His counterpart however decides t o do all the chores even when it is not his duty to perform. From the above case study the person who decides to take up responsibility when he shouldn’t be doing so in actual sense demonstrates an act of grace. It is worth noting that nothing has compelled this person to do so. He only does so out of will and does not expect a kickback when his counterpart comes back. From the case cited above, grace is said to be appropriately granted. It will however be inappropriate if the worker intentionally and repeatedly misses to conduct his duties with the notion that he will be helped do so. It is also an act of grace when someone foregoes own preferences while giving in to someone else’ preference. Grace also entails letting go of resentment, guilt and judgment about a coworker, friend or companion. When this is done, we release ourselves and others from consequences of guilt and blame. In addition, it is important to note that grace entails totally forgetting the bad sides of a worker, counterpart or companion other than hanging onto hostile feelings of the past that negatively impact on positive communication and management in general. Basically, grace should always comprise of an act of kindness, deferring needs or forgiving a wrong without an expectation of a payback. It is worth noting that showing grace is sometimes appropriate and sometimes inappropriate depending on the situation or problem in question. This is because there is a tendency that if it is always shown it can be easily misused by people who take advantage of kindness. For instance, someone might frequently abuse and upset others with a mind that pardon would be granted. This is out rightly wrong and therefore not appropriate to continue showing grace to the same person. When grace is granted and then exploited, a repeat of the same becomes inappropriate. However, in the event that grace is granted in good trust and another takes advantage, we should not take responsibility ourselv es. Being kind and always willing to pardon are worthy moral principles and therefore those who abuse grace are to take the blame. Ethical principles of self- assertion and self interest are not sufficient in interpersonal relationship and though it is seen as having the ability to create rich interpersonal relationship, grace is equally important. This is because we are all not perfect in what we do, more often we make mistakes, hurt others by what we say, or fail in performance of responsibilities and occasionally do

Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme Case - Essay Example The fraud caused investors to lose billions of dollars, and gave rise to a crisis of confidence in the capital markets. In reality, Madoff’s funds had no investment strategy to provide â€Å"hedges† against the usual forms of risk. For over a decade, there had not even been any trading of stock. In Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, the early investors were bought off with the money from the later investors; additionally, the payouts to the early investors were used as proof of profitability, to thereby convince later investors that the returns were legitimate. The bankruptcy trustee is implementing remedial measures including a â€Å"clawback† action for the later investors to recover the profits of the early investors. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme Case, examine the reasons for the fraud to take place over several years, identify the warning red flags missed by the investors, and the preventive and reco very measures to be adopted in Ponzi cases, besides other related aspects. Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi Investment Scheme The investment operation of Bernard Madoff was exposed in December 2008 as an extensive Ponzi scheme. The term is derived from Charles Ponzi who organized such a scam in 1919, and it denotes a fraudulent investment arrangement in which investors give cash and property to the main individual in the arrangement. While misappropriating some or all of the funds, the investment operator reports to the investors that the funds made profits. These professed amounts, and those actually paid to earlier investors are funds received from later investors. The fraud is revealed usually when a large number of investors wish to withdraw their investments at the same time, particularly when there is insufficient in-flow of money from new investors. Thus, Bernard Madoff duped investors of an estimated amount of more than $50 billion, by the time the fraudulent scheme was uncover ed (Mannino, 2010). Madoff’s alleged Ponzi had a reach across the globe of more than $50 billion. The sustained durability of the fraud for nearly two decades is considered to be due to Jewish money managers, severe regulatory shortcomings including ineptitude, and probable conflicts of interest by Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other regulators and auditors. Madoff appears to have taken actions that reveal him as an equal opportunity thief, who unashamedly misappropriated funds from close relatives and charities in his scheme (Vinod, 2009). One of the main reasons for Madoff’s attracting a wide following was that he â€Å"delivered consistently high returns with very low volatility over a long period† (Bernard & Boyle, 2009, p.3). His technique to obtain these low risk returns was to use a split-strike conversion strategy. This requires taking a long position in equities together with a short call, and a l ong put on equity index to lower the volatility of the position. It was eventually revealed that these returns were false. The Madoff case raises obvious questions on why it was not discovered earlier, and the reasons for investors and regulators to miss the various red flags. The need for risk management and regulation through improved capital requirements for operational risk, is evident from the implications of

Contemporary corporate governance issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Contemporary corporate governance issues - Essay Example Corporate governance has emerged as new buzzword in the modern world as far as the world of business is concerned. Generally, corporate governance is concerned with activities aimed at directing and controlling the activities of an organization, and this is done through establishment of structures, rules, and procedures that are critical in decision-making process (Baker and Anderson, 2010). The rise and development of corporate governance has brought into perspective the role, position, and importance of different stakeholders of a company. In most cases, the function, capability, and continuity of a company are attached to the behavior and relationships of different stakeholders (Baker and Anderson, 2010). The company has different stakeholders who, in one way or the other, contribute to the success and performance of the company. Major stakeholders of a company include board of governors, chief executive officer, management team, employees, customers, suppliers, society, and share holders (Davies, 2006). However, in recent times, there has been emerging debate with regard to the role and level of importance of different stakeholders of a company. There are those who view shareholders given their role as proprietors of capital to be the most important stakeholders and whose needs the company has to serve (McTaggart and Kontes 1993). On the other hand, there are those who think that, although shareholders have played a key role in providing capital and other critical investments, their possession without responsibility translates to nothing, and as a result, they have to give equal importance to other stakeholders such as employees and customers (Mallin, 2007). Still, there is another group that believes that a balance can be created so that there is no particular favor of one stakeholder, and that all stakeholders have to be considered equal and their needs satisfied equally without sabotaging the needs of others (Brink, 2011). Therefore, it may take time befo re perfect and meaningful consensus is reached. However, this is likely not to bring to stop the continued debate on the role and level of importance of different stakeholders. More debates, suggestions, criticisms, and all kinds of discussions are likely to come up in an attempt to divulge more information and understanding on these new emerging issues in corporate governance. Motivated by these aspects, the aim of this paper is to concisely make an argument with regard to the extent a company exists for the benefit of its shareholders. In doing so, attempt is made to discuss agency theory and the potential problems likely to emerge when such theories are put into practice. Shareholders Shareholders in any organization are viewed to be the suppliers of capital, and in return, they are likely to demand for corporate efficiency, honesty, productivity, and profitability (Freeman, Harrison, Wicks, Parmar, and De Colle, 2010). In this way, shareholders are perceived to possess and execu te certain powers that directly show the ability to control the functions. In doing so, the shareholders are motivated by their investments in the company, which they want or demand to bring positive returns and profits (Bain and Barker, 2010). For a long time, theories such as agency theory have tried to evaluate the role and position of shareholders and subsequently, justified why there is need to maintain and enhance shareholders value as a paramount thing in the organization and throughout its lifetime (Mallin, 2007). Shareholders, as the prime investors in the organization, are perceived to be the owners of the company and their interests are likely to supersede all other interests. Once they have invested in the company, shareholders are likely to manifest different motives, behaviors, and even ambitions. All these

Service Sector Mraketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Service Sector Mraketing - Essay Example A company who is in the business of services must consider the four elements of service characteristics when they are designing their marketing strategy of their service. Those elements are as follows: - 1. Service Intangibility: service intangibility means that services which cannot be seen, touched or smelled before they are purchased for example: train passengers when they buy a ticket before travelling or when people book a room in a hotel in advance etc. 2. Service Variability: service variability means the quality of the service. The quality of the service depends on the person who is going to give it, and when he/she is going to give it and where and how. 3. Service Inseparability: in service inseparability a service cannot be separated from the person who is providing it. In service inseparability both the customer who is getting the service and the person who is providing the service affect the result of the service. The best example for service inseparability is a doctor conducting an examination of a patient. 4. Service Perishability: in service perish-ability a service cannot be kept for later use or sale. ... These were the four basic elements or characteristics that have to be kept in mind when a company or an organization is conducting marketing of a service. Now let's look into a hotel business that provides different kinds of services to its customers. Hotel Services A hotel can be defined as a place where people come to stay for a short period of time and have to pay for their rooms, meals and other kinds of services which a hotel provides like a spa or maid service or for laundry or sport facilities etc. People who would like to stay in a hotel have to get their room reserved in advance. A hotel business solely exits to provide comfort and satisfaction for its customers. It not only fulfils the needs of a customer but actually anticipates and provides the need even before it is asked. The success of a hotel depends on its location that where it is located, inside the city or on the outskirts of the city, is it near a beach or on top of a mountain etc. and it should be easy to find for the tourists. Another thing that makes the hotel business a success would be the number of rooms it has. And let's not forget the main thing that makes it a real success is the way the hotel employees behave towards the hotel's customers. The staffs of the hotel have to be extremely friendly to all kinds of people who are staying or visiting the hotel because the needs of a customer always come first. And also because the staffs of the hotel is always in contact with the people who are staying there and those people usually judge or make an opinion about the place on the impressions of the staff or on the reception they get when they are staying there.

Two ways to belong to america bharati Essay Example for Free

Two ways to belong to america bharati Essay In the story â€Å"two ways to belong to America† the author and narrator Bharati addressed an issue of images of immigrants in America, and what it truly means to belong to a country. In Bharati short story â€Å"two ways to belong to America† she talks and her and her sister experience as first time immigrants migrating from India to America. At their arrival to America they were similar in a lot of ways, appearance and attitudes-views and sentiments. They were both seeking degrees-Mira in child psychology and pre-school education, bharati went on to peruse a degree in creative writing. After they obtained their degree’s they were to return to India and marry, a man of their fathers choosing. The second part of this plan the two sisters aborted –Mira, after successfully gaining her degree in child psychology and preschool education and Preferring to be set in her ways married a young Indian man pursuing his business administration degree at Wayne’s university. Bharati while obtaining her degree in creative writing married a fellow American student of Canadian heritage. Both of them then would be successfully married for thirty plus years and still maintain contact with each other; however, the narrator Bharati sees that as the only similarity that they have as immigrants coming from India to America. Bharati being the more outgoing and open-minded sister of the two, choose to welcome as much change as a new continent could offer, obtaining her green card then later her citizenship. She welcomed the difficulties of marrying a man from a different culture, wanting all the challenges that were accustomed to adapting to the American culture. She moved around in to different states, and even went to live in husband family’s homeland-Canada. She wanted to set roots in the country she lived in, vote and make a difference in any way that she could. She simply wanted to feel like she belonged. Mira on the other hand, being more of an introvert and a patriot of her county/culture felt it necessary to never involved in American culture and felt contentment with her labor certification. She stuck to her roots and her ancestral culture, but contributed significant amount of her expertise in child psychology and preschool education to American educational system and nationally has been recognized for her efforts. The Two sisters could not be any more different in their experiences of America. In this time, new laws were being established about the issues of possessing a American citizenship/green card verses just simply obtaining a right to word certification. This cause Mira to become irritated at the way she felt America was treating its hardworking immigrants, however Bharati always being able to look at both sides of an issue objectively, did not see it that way. she tried to urge her sister to get a green card so that she would still be eligible for benefits that came with being an American citizen/green card holder , she replied she would, just until she was ready to go back to her country she’d change her citizenship back to being a citizen of India. Bharati then saw her sister in a different light, they certainly was not the same. Where she was passionate about being in a new country her sister preferred to be like an exile, living in a country but not of the country. In conclusion, I agree with both Mira and Bharati I believe that when one has willingly come to a country, one must adapt, however one must always maintain an identity that signifies their background and ancestry†¦never fully giving in to both but finding a balance that suits you.

Leadership Operations Management of Audi

Leadership Operations Management of Audi Organisation: Audi AG, Head Quarters: Ingolstadt, Germany, Chairman of the Board of Management: Prof Rupert Stradler (Audi, 2016) This report has been conducted for and requested by the Directors Senior Management Personnel of Audi AG, to investigate the different approaches/practices towards Operations Management, the overall performance of the organisation. Key emphasis has been placed upon understanding the value of Operations Management within the organisational context at Audi AG; and how effective operational efficiencies can aid businesses to successfully achieve business objectives. The application of different theories and models of approach/practice towards contrasting situations within the Audi AG working environment has been explored; for the resulting information/evidence to be contextually comprehensive. Methodology The information contained within this Briefing Paper has been obtained primarily through secondary research techniques including web-based research, academic journal reading and published books and articles. The reasons behind this, are that it is particularly problematic gaining primary research information from Board Level Directors Senior Managers due to time constraints, thus much of the information is obtained through organisational publications. However, primary research was utilised on occasions where greater depth was needed or the required information was not obtainable through other methods. Results 2.1  Audi AG Organisational Structure Audi AG (Audi) was historically established in 1910 by founder August Horch in Zwickau (Central-Eastern Germany). Audi AG operates and distributes cars worldwide, manufacturing cars in 11 Production Facilities across 9 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America. Audi AG Group currently employees 84,435 members of staff (November 2016) with a revenue of 58.42 Billion EUR (Full year ended 31 March 2016) Chairman of the Board of Management is Prof Rupert Stradler (Audi, 2016). Audi AG is categorised as a large multinational organisation and is a constituent of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with a current share price as of COP (close of play) on 8th December 2016 at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬604.62 EUR (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, 2016). Audi AG has many subsidiary companies including Lamborghini, Italdesign Giugiaro, Audi Brussels and Audi Hungaria Motor Kft; with also an overriding parent organisation of Volkswagen Group sitting above Audi AG in hierarchy. (Audi, 2016) 2.1.1 Organisational Management Structure Audi AG is a vast organisation with a Management Matrix/Structure that consists of many layers across various business functions and geographical prominence. The corporate management of Audi AG draws on its expertise and leadership to promote the interests of more than 80,000 employees, the Audi shareholders and the Audi customers around the globe. The managers of Audi AG form the basis for responsible corporate management. (Audi, 2016) Prof Rupert Stradler (Chairman of the Board of Management) is at the summit of the Board of Management and is responsible for the forward planning of the organisation, coupled with the performance of his appointed Board of Management. Beneath the Chairman, the Board of Management consists of Board Members responsible for the performance of specific business functions within the organisation globally; these include: Procurement, Human Resources Organisation, Finance IT, Sales Marketing and Production Logistics. The full list of Audi AG Board Member s is shown in Appendix A. Beneath the Board of Management, Audi AG is dissected depending on Geographical Area within each discipline. For example, European Sales Marketing Director North American Production Logistics Director; these individuals will report up to the relevant Board Member. The regions are once again split up depending on individual plants/locations and the Management Structure continues this trend throughout the organisation. See [Figure 1] Audi AG Company Organogram for further clarification of the Organisational/Management Structure within the organisation. (Audi, 2016) 2.1.2Audi AG Organisational Organogram [Figure 1] (P3, M2, D1) Author: Jacob Hood. Ref: (Audi AG, 2016) Organogram Key: Functional Relationship. Different Departmental Individuals/Functions that work very closely a together to achieve Organisational Objectives. Line Relationship. Organogram structural links indicating hierarchal structure and a subordinates/superiors across departments. Functional Relationship. Symbol to indicate the whole department works loosely albeit of lesser importance as with all other business functions. Indicated with a symbol to maintain clarity of [Figure 1]. Lateral Relationship. Different Departmental Individuals/Functions of the same Hierarchal Position that a work very closely together to achieve Organisational Objectives. 2.1.2 Overview of Operations Management Within Audi AG To gauge an understanding of the Key Operational Functions within Audi AG; an explanation of Operations Management in a broader sense and how the Business Function operates within organisations is critical. Joseph Martinich devised definitions in relation to Operations Management, Operations management is a discipline and profession that studies (and practices) the process of planning, designing and operating production systems and subsystems to achieve the goals of the organisation. (Martinich, 1997) It is responsible for all the processes associated with the design, planning, control, and production of the products/services that the organisation offers. Operations Management forms the fundamental groundwork of the production of products within organisations; and an efficient Operations Management Function leads to increased profitability, productivity and a more streamlined product build process. Within Audi AG, the key operations of the organisation involve the production of their various car models across the globe. These vehicles have numerous variations and are broadly bespoke based upon the customers desired specifications at the point of order. Some of these include: Different Body Shapes, Chassis, Engine Sizes, Left/Right Hand Drive, Transmission, Interior Specifications, Leather Seats, Carbon Fibre Trims etc. (Audi AG, 2016) These variations field complications to the Operations Management Team due to the fluctuating build times between variation of Model/Specification and requires careful scheduling and planning alongside the engineering and manufacturing processes in place to deliver the finished output/product. 2.1.3 Key Operations/Operations Functions Within Audi AG The Operations Management Function, which is known as the Production Logistics Procurement Functions within Audi AG are responsible for the design, control and delivery of Audi AGs Key Operations (Production of Audi Vehicles). The Board of Management Member for the Production Logistics Function is Dr.-Ing. Hubert Waltl and Procurement Board of Management Member is Dr Bernd Martens. (Audi AG, 2016) The inter-relationship between these two functions is crucial to the success of the Operational Processes at Audi AG especially within the Logistics Inventory Management Aspect of the Manufacturing Process. The Key Operational Functions and how Audi AG dissects these functions into Departments within Audi AG is indicated below. The assumptions below are taken from the Neckarsulm, Mid-South Germany Plant, where the production of Audi A4, A5, A7, A8, R8, RS6 and all the individual variations of such vehicles within the Neckarsulm Production Plant. (Audi AG, 2016) Scheduling. The Operation Function of Scheduling is responsible for the design and allocation of resources and setting up the timetable of when the product/service will be completed, following a customer order. (Management Study, 2017) Within the Organisational Context at Audi AG, they name this departmental function Production Control Planning. (Audi AG, 2016) They utilise sophisticated computerised systems to ascertain the duration of time that it takes to fully manufacture the product dependent on current Queue Time, Model Bespoke Specifications etc. This is then relayed to the Customer to give them an indication of the anticipated delivery time of their Audi Vehicle. A key aspect of Scheduling is devising the algorithms and the systems based upon their research of previous Build Time of vehicles to create accurate schedules for various models and variations of those models. Scheduling is also responsible for maximising the efficiency of the Production Line, Streamlining Process es and Eradicating Bottlenecks. For Example, within Audi AG the body and chassis of an Audi A4 takes sufficiently longer than the interior. Therefore, a key improvement to mitigate this issue could be to build in a buffer of excess Audi A4 bodies being manufactured in the night shift. This will then sufficiently mitigate the issue that the Interior aspects of the Manufacturing Process take less time to complete than the Exterior Production. Thus, maximising the number of vehicles that can be manufactured within a given time period. Capacity Management. Capacity Management is concerned with the matching of the capacity of the operating system and the demand placed upon that system. (Wild, 2002) Capacity Management within Audi AG is part of the Production Control Planning Departmental Function with the core objectives being to manage the current level of resources available in relation to the demand placed upon those processes; to deliver efficient and effective mechanisms that successfully meet Business Objectives. Capacity Management must be able to accurately draw upon historical and forecasted data to ascertain whether the current structure and configuration of Human/Non-Human Resources can sufficiently deal with current and prospective consumer demand. (Management Study, 2017) For example within Audi AG, they must be acutely aware of the Micro/Macro Environmental Factors, Sales Forecasts and balance these with a detailed analysis of the Production/Manufacturing Systems and make informed decisions as to whet her internal operational adjustments are required. One of Audi AGs Business Objectives is to work to ensure that the consumer doesnt have to wait extensive quantities of time to receive their new Audi Vehicle. Short-Term Demand can be dealt with by increasing the forecasted build time from 6 weeks to 8 weeks. However, if there is a prolonged increased demand for a model of Audi Vehicle, whereby Customers must wait over 8 weeks for their new vehicle; it may be necessary to increase the amount of resources available to manufacture more units of that model (More Labour, Machines Etc.), to successfully meet business objectives. It is the role of Capacity Management to monitor the current trends in relation to the processes and make pragmatic strategic decisions based upon this data. Transformation Process. The Transformation Process is the Operational Function that addresses the process of taking Inputs which include Transforming Resources (Staff, Machinery) and Transformable Resources (Raw Materials) and turns these resources/materials into finished Outputs that are ready to distribute to the consumer. (Pearson, 2016, p.567) See Appendix A for the Transformation Process Model in a visual format. Within the Situational Context at Audi AG, the Transforming Resources include: Production Line Workforce, Machinery and Individual Plants. The Transformable Resources include: Raw Materials such as Vehicle Body/Chassis, Engines, Leather Interior, Electronic Chips etc. The Output is the finished Audi Model Vehicle that is distributed to the customer, For Example Audi TT. The Transforming Resources assist to construct/transform the Transformable Resources into the final output product. (Pearson, 2016, p.567) At Audi AG, there are a couple of functions responsible for impl ementing the Transformation Process efficiently and effectively, these being Production Engineering and Maintenance Engineering and Quality Management. Production Engineering is responsible for devising innovative processes that can streamline the Transformation Process of producing an Audi Vehicle, thus saving significant costs if these can be implemented effectively. Maintenance Engineering is responsible for the continued operations of seeing through the existing Engineering Processes attributed to building Audis vehicles. This needs to be done effectively to ensure that quality products are being produced to the correct schedule set out by the Scheduling Function. Quality Management is responsible for the checking and vetting of the finished outputs to ensure it is to Audi AGs quality specifications. This is crucial to offer a consistent quality of product and ensure customers are happy with the products they receive. (Audi AG, 2016) Logistics Inventory Management. Inventory Management supervises the flow of goods from manufacturers to warehouses and from these facilities to point of sale. (Manufacturing Tech, 2017) Within the Organisational Context at Audi AG, the Operations Management Function of Inventory Management is incorporated within the Logistics Department. Inventory Management is responsible for supervising the process of managing inventory at various degrees/levels of completion/processing of those materials from Raw Materials through to Finished Products. Inventory Managements primary objective is to minimise the amount of excess capital that is expended on surplus inventory; the storage, transport and management of such inventory is very costly to organisations. Other reasons behind the implementation of this process is to be able to successfully meet seasonal demand, variation in production demand, ability to take advantage of quantity discounts, highlight quality/other issues in the Production Li ne and to streamline the Production Process and reduce costs. (Management Study, 2017) Within Audi AG, the Logistics Function must ensure to manage their inventory of Raw Materials (Engine Parts, Interior Materials, Chassis Etc.) so that they do not have excess Inventory costing the business money through unnecessary storage of such materials. Audi AG implement an Operational Approach called Just-In-Time (JIT) which will be explored in detail below, however broadly speaking it ensures the delivery of materials from Suppliers at precisely the time at when they are required in the Production Line. This program is devised in association with the Scheduling Function and mitigates the risk of unnecessary Raw Materials Inventory. Audi AG also must contend with the matter of Finished Goods Inventory (Completed Vehicles). The approach within Audi AG is to ensure to sell such stock as quickly as possible while the vehicles are worth the most money, often through promotions on certain models and incentives to purchase the Models/Variations whereby there is excess Finished Goods Inventory. (Management Study, 2017) Audi also removes this form of inventory through offering the vehicles as Company Cars or through Employee Centred Incentive Schemes. (Audi AG, 2017) It is the role of Inventory Management to also prevent these occurrences from happening and analysing Sales Trends Forecasts to minimise excess Finished Goods Inventory; as the costs to store and the depreciation of the vehicles reduces the profitability of the organisation. 2.2 Key Operational Approaches To Operations Management 2.2.1 Just-In-Time Philosophy/Theory The Just-In-Time Philosophy (JIT) is primarily used within Manufacturing/Retail focused organisations, however the theory can be applied across a range of different market sectors. Just-In-Time (JIT) refers to the process of the supply of materials, either from external suppliers or from other areas within the organisation, delivering the items to the relevant department/area of the business at precisely the time that they need it. The main objective being to achieve reduction and mitigation of surplus raw materials within the organisation with a view to increasing productivity, (Toyota Global, 2017) The art of just-in-time production consists of keeping intermediate stock levels down to an absolute minimum, yet none the less having each part arrive at the predetermined point at precisely the right time. (Audi, 2017) JIT is a Production Model where items are manufactured/created to meet demand, not created in surplus/advance of need. (Tech Target, 2017) Within the Organisational Cont ext at Audi AG, implementing Just-In-Time within the Procurement Process can significantly streamline the Production-Line Process and lead to increased productivity. For Example, within Production Line A at Audi Neckarsulm Plant, Germany the Scheduling and Logistics Department will utilise sophisticated computer systems to ascertain the quantity of each product is required to produce a given number of cars per day i.e. (500 Michelin 750 Continental Tyres Per Day). The suppliers for these tyres will then be allocated a precise time slot to deliver the items Just-In-Time for when they are required in the Production Line Process. This can assist to eliminate waste, inconsistencies, unreasonable requirements thus resulting in increased productivity in the line. (Toyota Global, 2017) 2.2.1.1 Advantages of Applying Just-In-Time Philosophy (JIT) Lower Stock/Raw Materials Inventory results in a significant reduction in storage space which saves capital in rental and insurance costs. (Tutor2U, 2017) As stock is only purchased when orders are placed, it results less working capital tied up in stock, which can be invested elsewhere in/outside the business. (Tutor2U, 2017) Mitigates the issue of un-sold finished stock being produced due to sudden non-forecasted increases in demand and prevents the risk of stock perishing due to it only arriving when it is needed to be used. This can increase Profitability within Audi AG due to unnecessary capital not being expended on wasted materials/stock. (Tutor2U, 2017) -Drives higher standards on the Production Line and with Suppliers due to there being little room for error with Minimal Stock retained to account for errors on the Production Line and very precise Delivery Slots can ensure Supplier Standards are maintained, thus increasing Productivity of these aspects within Audi AG. (Tutor2U, 2017) 2.2.1.2 Disadvantages of Applying Just-In-Time Philosophy (JIT) Little/No Room for Error. This is a big contributing disadvantage to the system for both the Production-Line. Minimal stock is kept for re-working faulty products due to the implementation of this process, therefore a lot of pressure is placed on the Production-Line to get things right first time. (Tutor2U, 2017) -Heavily Reliant on Suppliers. Suppliers are allocated a small-time slot to deliver the correct amount of the product that is specified by the Scheduling and Procurement Functions. If they miss their slot, deliver incorrect quantity/type of materials this can cause the Production Line to falter, meaning less vehicles are made, productivity is decreased and in-turn profitability. (Tutor2U, 2017) -There is no spare finished stock to cater for unexpected increases in demand, however the flexibility of the system means that it can react quickly to demand changes. Albeit this will not be as rapid for the consumer as having finished stock ready to be distributed. (Tutor2U, 2017) 2.2.2Six Sigma Six Sigma is a widely used Operational Approach towards Operations Management and is frequently applied within Manufacturing Businesses, however the fundamental processes also apply within businesses operating within the Service Industry. The Purpose of Six Sigma is to reduce process variation so that virtually all the products or services provided meet or exceed customer expectations. (DTI, 2017) Six Sigma adopts a very data driven, disciplined method for eliminating defects within processes and promoting business improvement within organisations. (iSixSigma, 2017) Within Audi AG, this could mean the Manufacture of a Car Model or the Service offered to customers throughout the Sales Process. (Audi AG, 2016) Six Sigma is able to show quantitatively how a process is performing and to achieve Six Sigma Status, a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. (iSixSigma, 2017) Six Sigma is dissected into three core elements including: Process Improvement, Proc ess Design/Re-Design Process Management and will be explored below. 2.2.2.1Process Improvement The Process Improvement aspect of the Six Sigma Model addresses the concept of improving existing processes with the ultimate objective of increasing the quality of product/service that the consumer receives and attainment of Six Sigma Status

Cognitive And Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Borderline Personality Disorder Nursing Essay

Cognitive And Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Borderline Personality Disorder Nursing Essay AIM: To give a brief history of Borderline Personality Disorder and research the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Method: A review of the literature and review of controlled trials and uncontrolled trials. Conclusion: In the management of Borderline Personality Disorder, there are many problems to consider, out of these problems self-harm and suicidal tendencies are considered the most important to treat. Chapter 1 Introduction 1.0 Despite the many treatment options for people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), many professionals in mental health services continue to believe that personality disorders are untreatable. This essay provides evidence the effectiveness of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) with Borderline Personality Disorder. Background To understand BPD, I will attempt to give a historical overview of BPD. Philippe Pinel in the 1800s, first described people who engage in deviant behaviour, but with no signs of thought disorder such as hallucinations or delusions as mania without delirium or in French manie sans delire (Friedel, 2004). Although the meaning of the term has changed through many writings on the subject over time, the writing of Cleckley and his use of the label psychopath in The Mask of Sanity brought the term into accepted usage (Meloy, 1998). The Mask of Sanity is a book written by Hervey Cleckley first published in 1941; he gave the most significant clinical description of psychopathy in the 20th century. An expanded edition of the book was published in 1982, when the name was changed from psychopathy to Personality Disorder. In 1972, newer editions of the book reflected a closer alliance with Kernbergss (1984) borderline level of personality organization, in particular defining the structural criteria of the psychopaths identity integration, defensive operations and re ality testing. The diagnosis borderline was introduced in the 1930s to label patients with problems that seemed to fall somewhere in between neurosis and psychosis (Stern, 1938). Adolph Stern a psychoanalyst described the symptoms, which are now considered to be the criteria of BPD. He suggested the possible causes and what he thought the most successful psychotherapy treatments were. He renamed the disorder, by referring to patients with symptoms as the borderline group (Friedel, 2004). In 1940, the psychoanalyst Robert Knight introduced his explanation theory of borderline disorder. Ego or sense of self psychology deals with mental function, which allows us to effectively combine our thoughts and to develop helpful responses to our life around us. He stated that people with BPD have impairments in a lot of of these functions, and he referred to them as borderline states (Friedel 2004). The next important input was made by the psychoanalyst Otto Kernberg (1967); he introduced the term borderline personality organisation. He proposed that mental disorders were determined by three distinctive personality organisations: psychotic, neurotic and borderline personality. Kernberg has been a strong promoter of modified psychoanalytic therapy for patients with borderline disorder (Friedel 2004). The first research on BPD was published by Roy Grinker in 1968, which he called Borderline Syndrome (Friedel 2004). The next major article was published in 1975 by Gunderson and Singer. They defined the major characteristics of BPD. Gunderson then went on to publish a research instrument to enable an accurate diagnosis. Internationally researchers were then able to verify the validity and integrity of BPD (Friedel, 2004). This followed with BPD becoming a genuine psychiatric diagnosis and appeared in the DSM-111 in 1980. Personality disorder categories are not firmly grounded in theory, nor are they empirically based (Livesley, 1998). Some critics say that personality disorder categories are so flawed that the best option is to abolish them and start afresh, but most pragmatists recognise that so much has been invested in them that they are very likely here to stay (Blackburn 2000a; Livesley, 1998). The Nice Guidelines for Personality Disorder (2009) state that borderline personality disorder is associated with significant impairment, especially in relation to the capacity to sustain stable relationships as a result of personal and emotional instability (NICE 2009). The severity of the symptoms, are related to the severity of the individuals personal/social situations. Stone (1993) argues that some people with BPD can still function at high levels in their lives and careers. Paris (1994) stated that about one-third of patients with BPD reported severe abuse involving an incestuous perpetrator; about one-third reported milder forms of abuse; and about one-third do not report abuse. Personality disorders are common conditions; studies indicate prevalence of 10-13% of the adult population in the community and are more common among younger age groups (24-44 yrs) and equally distributed between males and females. However, the sex ratio for specific types of personality disorder is variable e.g. antisocial personality disorder is more common among males, and borderline personality disorder more common amongst females (DOH 2003). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can be seen as an umbrella term for many different therapies that share some common elements. The earliest form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy was developed by Albert Ellis in the early 1950s. Aaron T.Beck independently developed another CBT approach, called Cognitive Therapy, in the 1960s. Cognitive Therapy rapidly became a favorite intervention to study in psychotherapy research in academic settings. In initial studies, it was often contrasted with behavioral treatments to see which was most effective. However, in recent years, cognitive and behavioral techniques have often been combined into cognitive behavioral treatment. This is arguably the primary type of psychological treatment being studied in research today. One specific form of cognitive-behavioural therapy is dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), a broad-based, cognitive-behavioural programme developed specifically to reduce self-harm in women with borderline personality disorders (Linehan, 1993a; Linehan 1993b). Recent research has shown that dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is one of the first therapies that have demonstrated to be effective for treating borderline personality disorder as well as being effective in treating people who display varied symptoms and behaviours associated with mood disorders, including self-harm. DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioural techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of mindful-awareness, distress tolerance, and acceptance. 1.2 Rationale As a mental health nurse coming from a forensic background, I have experience of working with clients with personality disorder. I feel that by getting more of an understanding of CBT interventions, it will make a huge difference to my future practice in the future. McKenna et al (1999) state that it is unacceptable for health care not to be based on sound evidence of its effectiveness, and back up their practice with research-based evidence (NMC, 2008) to ensure effective clinical practice. Often nurses find it frustrating working with disorders of personality. These clients can be manipulative, socially inappropriate and difficult, for these reasons, such clients need all the patience and skills nurses have to offer. But despite this service in the NHS, services have been varied and inconsistent (DoH, 2003). Besides functional impairment and emotional distress, borderline personality disorder is also associated with significant financial costs to the healthcare system, social servi ces and the wider society (NICE 2009). 1.3 Aims and objectives The aims and objectives of this project are to review the evidence on the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with people who have Borderline Personality. 1.4 Methodology and parameters This literature review was conducted using the following resources Electronic databases: Cochrane library, CINHAL, Medline, Psychinfo, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences and Academic Search Premier Key journals were hand searched: British Journal of Psychiatry, Journal of Personality Disorders, Mental Health Practice, Journal of Personality and Mental Health University and Trust libraries Google Google scholar The following types of literature were sought and reviewed where available Randomised control trials Systematic and structured review Quantitative and Qualitative research studies Position statements/guidelines from professional bodies Government policies (NICE (2009), NSF (1999) Text Books Inclusion and exclusion criteria Eligibility for this review was determined by the following criteria: à ¢-  Participants: adults with BPD (diagnosed according to DSM-III/DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, DSM-IV-TR or ICD-10 criteria for BPD), with or without co-morbidity. à ¢-  Intervention: psychological therapies, including CBT, DBT à ¢-  Comparators: CBT/DBT or treatment as usual à ¢-  Outcomes: self-harm, suicide, interpersonal and social functioning à ¢-  Study type: published papers were assessed according to the accepted hierarchy of evidence, whereby systematic reviews of RCTs are taken to be the most authoritative forms of evidence, with uncontrolled observational studies the least authoritative. à ¢-  Exclusion criteria: papers on personality disorder without separate BPD subgroup analyses. The studies were obtained through a number of sources, as above. Searches were performed by entering the key words Borderline Personality Disorder, Cognitive behaviour therapy into several databases, which yielded many secondary references of current best evidence. Search filters developed consisted of a combination of subject headings. The topic-specific filters were combined with appropriate research design filters developed for systematic reviews, RCTs and other appropriate research designs. These articles were selected after careful reading of the title and abstract to identify the most useful. I then limited my search to full articles which made my search a lot easier. The definitive text that will be used to aid my search will be NICE Clinical Guidelines for Personality disorder 78. This guideline makes recommendations for the treatment and management of borderline personality disorder in adults and young people (under the age of 18) who meet criteria for the diagnosis in prim ary, secondary and tertiary care (NICE, 2009). BPD is present in 1% of the population, and is most frequent in early adulthood. Women present to services more often than men. BPD is not often formally diagnosed before the age of 18, but the features of the disorder can be identified earlier. Its path is changeable but many people do recover (NICE 2009). This search will comprise both British and international articles. When choosing which articles were going to be relevant, I found it impossible to ignore the amount of articles I had on DBT and as DBT was evolved from CBT and made specifically for BPD, I decided to bring it into my research project. The articles are mixed quantitative and qualitative research. The qualitative means of gathering subjective data is centred on an individuals experience, beliefs, empowerment and quality of care and does not solely concentrate on clinical outcomes for the individual. One could argue that this is the most appropriate aspect of research for mental health nurses as mental illness is individual for each person involved in the process and although BPD is not a mental illness. The National Service Framework for adult mental health sets out our responsibilities to offer evidence based, effective services for all those with severe mental illness, including people with personality disorder who experience significant distress or difficulty (NIMH 2003). While these can be misconceived as an easy option form of research, qualitative research offers rich, reflective and exhaustive data that is invaluable and has a profound contribution to make to take to practice. The qualitative evidence was lim ited with regards to the treatments reviewed, with an emphasis on DBT. Quantitative research is a formal, objective, and rigorous statistical process for generating information about the world (Burns Grove 1999), whereby the researcher would gather a range of numerical data in order to answer the research question, or prove, disprove a hypothesis (Parahoo 2006). Philosophies or schools of thought in research are called paradigms (Parahoo 2006). One such paradigm is positivism. Parahoo (2006) asserts that positivism relies on observations by the human senses to create fact (empiricism), and believe in the unity of science, and the notion of cause and effect (determinism). The positivist researcher will endeavour to test a hypothesis or theory using the deductive process of a course of experiments. This paradigm utilises a quantitative approach in its research methods. For the positivists, quantitative research is believed to provide hard evidence and objective fact that can provide knowledge on which to base best practice (Parahoo 2006). Efficacy studies focus on the usefulness of a specific helping methodology for a particular kind of problem. Comparisons are made between the methodology in question and some other methodology between clients with some disorder who do receive the treatment and those who do not or between two different methodologies for treating the same disorder. These studies are carried out under controlled conditions. Many of the studies are well designed and demonstrate efficacy. In a healthcare context, efficacy indicates the capacity for beneficial change (or therapeutic effect) of a given intervention. Chapter 2 The Literature Review Having undertaken a critical review of the literature, I have come to explore a number of issues which I feel necessary to consider, key themes emerging from this literature review are the impact of CBT DBT on suicidal behaviours, the impact of CBT DBT on self-harming behaviours, and the impact of CBT DBT on engagement. This chapter sets out to explore these themes in more detail. On the whole the most suitable research design to answer this is the Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT); hence the evidence base reviewed include accessible RCTs undertaken in those with a diagnosis of BPD (NICE, 2009). The causes of BPD are complicated and remain uncertain. Contributing factors may include an inherited vulnerability, a particular temperament, early life experiences and, in subtle neurological or hormonal disturbances (NICE 2009). NICE (2009) state that the history of specific psychological interventions designed to help people with borderline personality disorder is intertwined with changing conceptions of the nature of the disorder itself. Swartz (1990) wrote that BPD is more common among drug and alcohol users. And within these dependents there will be more women diagnosed than men. Zanarini (1998) also adds that the disorder is more common in those with eating disorders, and also among people with self-harming behaviours (Linehan et al., 1991) 2.1 Defining Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy NICE (2009) define CBT as a structured psychological treatment that focuses on helping a person make connections between their thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Originally CBT was used as a treatment for depression which has now been modified to treat BPD. CBT focuses on altering the thoughts, emotions, and behaviours of patients by teaching them skills to challenge and modify beliefs, to engage in experimental reality testing, and to develop better coping strategies. The goals of these interventions are to reduce the delusional beliefs, and consequently their severity, and to encourage effective coping and decreasing distress. This essay will attempt to assess the contribution of CBT and the disorder by discussing reviews on effectiveness. CBT for BPD was developed with the idea that people with BPD have learned distorted beliefs and thoughts overtime. Distressing emotional responses and behaviours develop as a result. Beck Freeman (1990) outlined such beliefs, relating to dependen cy, distrust, and rigid perceptions. The distorted thoughts are modified by monitoring,  analysis and questioning.   Davidson (2000), adds that particular attention should be paid to the problems that can disrupt therapy, and so disrupt the therapeutic relationship (NICE, 2009), such as non-engagement, loss of structure, losing focus and lack of compliance. CBT for BPD attempts to create change by improving the attitude of the patient toward treatment, the enhancement of specific skills, and the reduction of hopelessness (Friedel, 2004). The therapist and patient will construct a list of problem areas. A set of tasks will be developed that will generate and reinforce new attitudes and behaviours, which will replace the old attitudes and behaviors that have caused problems in the past. Within the past 15 years, another, newer psychosocial treatment termed Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) was developed. DBT joins standard cognitive behavioural techniques with acceptance based strategies, as well as strategies designed to keep the therapy balanced between change and acceptance (dialectical strategies). Marsha M. Linehan, a psychologist from the University of Washington in Seattle, developed DBT specifically for people with BPD, especially those who engage in self-destructive and self-injurious behaviours. DBT is based on the belief that the symptoms of BPD result from organic impairments in the brain that control emotional responses. The early behavioural effects of this impairment are exaggerated, as the person with this biological risk factor interacts with people who do not validate their emotional pain and dont help them learn effective coping skills. DBT has gained significant support in the treatment of BPD because of the results it has achieved in several r esearch studies. It has been shown that DBT can be taught to and used by many, but not all, mental health professionals. For the time being this seriously restricts the use of this helpful treatment approach. DBT seeks to validate feelings and problems, but it balances this acceptance by gently pushing to make productive changes. DBT also deals with other opposing or dialectical tensions or conflicts that arise, such as the patients perceived need for a high level of dependence on the therapists, and the fear and guilt aroused by such extreme dependency. DBT combines both cognitive and behavioural techniques and designed specifically to treat BPD. It is a combination of individual psychotherapy and psychosocial skills training that has been shown via controlled clinical trial to be effective in treating individuals with BPD (Linehan, 1993b). One of the most limiting factors of treating and delivering therapies is that there is not enough staff in the NHS trained to a high standard ( NICE 2009). Cunningham (2004) interviewed fourteen women with BPD to discover why and how DBT is effective. The women were provided with tools to help them deal with their problems and so enabled them to to see the disorder as a controllable part of themselves rather than something that controlled them (NICE, 2009). Cunningham (2004) found that although their problems did not disappear, they became more manageable. It also seemed to have encouraging results on their relationship interactions, and, in addition DBT instilled hope and an ability to try to live independently (NICE, 2009) 2.2 Suicidal acts NICE (2009) define suicidal acts as, deliberate; life threatening; resulted in medical attention; medical assessment consistent with suicide attempt. The main problem staff face in managing BPD is suicidal behaviour (Paris Zweig-Frank, 2001). There is also an association between BPD and depression (Skodol et al., 1999; Zanarini et al, 1998), and Solof (2000) adds that the combination of the two disorders increases the number of suicide attempts. People with BPD possibly will take part in a number of negative and reckless behaviours including self-harm, eating disorders and substance misuse. Self-harming in BPD has different meanings to each individual, including relief from feelings and distress, such anger, or to reconnect with feelings after episodes of emptiness (NICE, 2009). Because of the high occurrence of self-harm, the risk of suicide is higher (Cheng et al, 1997), with 60-70% of patients with BPD making suicide attempts at some point in their lives (Oldham, 2006), however, unsuccessful attempts are far more common and the actual rate of completed suicides is estimated at between 8-10%. A specific therapy for BPD, DBT tak es a behavioural approach to self-harm and suicidal acts that include skills training in emotional regulation and validation of client experience (NICE, 2009). Cognitive-behavioural therapy along the lines of Beck, Freeman, Associates (1990) has been investigated in at least two uncontrolled trials. Brown, Newman, Charlesworth, and Chrits-Cristoph (2003) found significant decreases on suicide ideation, hopelessness, depression, number of BPD symptoms, and dysfunctional beliefs after 1 year of cognitive-behavioural therapy for suicidal or self-mutilating patients with BPD. Results were maintained at a 6 months follow-up. Effect sizes were moderate (0.22-0.55). Dropout rate was 9.4%. Arntz (1999a) found positive effects of long-lasting cognitive-behavioural therapy in a mixed sample of personality disorders, including 6 patients with BPD. Two patients with BPD dropped out prematurely, but the other four attained good results. Linehan et al (1991) conducted a randomised controlled trial using 44 chronically parasuicidal women with BPD to assess the effectiveness of DBT. Among the two groups, there was very little difference between measures of depression, hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Overall the group which received DBT had an average of 8.46 inpatient days compared to the controlled group which had 38.86 days. A naturalistic follow up review was conducted on 39 on the women one year later, to determine the effects of DBT. The women that had completed the DBT course had fewer parasuicidal episodes, but after 18-24 months there were no significant differences between the two groups, although psychiatric inpatient days were still lower for the DBT group. Rathus et al. (2002) went on to conduct a study with a group of 111 suicidal teenagers. 29 were assigned to DBT, while the other 82 had treatment as usual (TAU). It is worth mentioning that the DBT group had far more severe symptoms pre-treatment. The study therefore was not randomised. During the 12 week treatment, the DBT group had fewer inpatient hospitalisations, although the number of suicide attempts made during the treatment did not differ between the groups, but, the attendance and completion was higher in the DBT group. A smaller case study was conducted by Hengeveld et al (1996); he reported of 9 female patients who were given a 10 week course of CBT, they had all attempted suicide at least twice. Of the 9 women, four of those were diagnosed with BPD. Following up the women 10 months later, by phone or examining medical records, all four BPD patients had reports of further suicide attempts (NICE, 2009). Linehan et al. (2006) conducted a one-year randomized controlled trial with one year of post-treatment follow up. The objective was to evaluate the hypothesis that unique aspects of DBT are more efficacious compared to treatment offered by non-behavioural psychotherapy experts. The study included 101 female participants with recent suicidal and self-injurious behaviours that met DSM-IV criteria. The subjects who received DBT were half as likely to make a suicide attempt. 2.3 Self-harm NICE guidelines (2009) use the definition that self-harm is self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of the apparent purpose of the act. Self-harm BPD is connected with a range of diverse meanings for the individual, including release from distress and feelings, such as emptiness and anger, and to reconnect with feelings after an episode of dissociation (NICE, 2009). There have been positive attitudes from patients about DBT, as it has helped improve their ability to control their emotions, improves their relationships and significantly reduces the occurrence of self-harm (NICE, 2009). In a large sample, Tyrer et al (2003) found that CBT was equivalent to TAU for the treatment of recurrent self-harm and noted that this method was less effective for patients with BPD. In an uncontrolled study by Brown (2004), patients with BPD with self-harming tendencies received CBT over 12 months; they then stayed in contact with them by phone over the next 6 months. Therapists were on call to emergency phone calls throughout. A randomised controlled study by Verheul et al (2003) was carried out to compare DBT with TAU for patients with BPD, 58 women received treatment for a year were randomised to DBT or TAU. The results: the 12 month attrition rate (37%) for DBT was substantially lower, compared to TAU (77%); DBT treatment also resulted in a large reduction of self-harming behaviours than TAU. A follow up review of this study was carried out by Van den Bosch et al (2005), to ascertain whether the previous results were continued over the following 6 months. It was discovered that the benefits of DBT after the treatment were sustained, and levels of self-harm were lower. It must be said, however, that the definitions of self-harm were all slightly different in each of the RCTs, this can make it very difficult to compare results (NICE, 2009). Another case study series by Alper (2001), presents data on 15 women in a forensic setting, with a diagnosis of BPD. Nurses in the hospital carried out the DBT, and over 4 weeks there was a significant reduction in the occurrence of self-harm. Alper (2001) also carried out qualitative interviews with the nurses to describe how they felt about the treatment, they were all very positive. Bateman Tryer (2004) state that the extensive implementation of DBT is a acknowledgment of its founder, Marsha Linehan, with its mixture of acceptance and change, skills training, manualisation, and an opinion that is willing to embrace this comprehensive approach (NICE, 2009). The evidence strength though, is not justified, however (Tyrer, 2002b), and answers about the long-term success of this therapy as a treatment for BPD are premature. In view of the fact that the original trial, which was handicapped by many methodological limitations, there has only been one study that supports the findings clearly, which was that of Verheul et al (2003) (NICE, 2009). 2.4 Non-engagement For effective treatment, commitment to therapy is required, and research shows that fewer people drop out of DBT than other therapies (Verheul et al 2003) Haigh (2003) interviewed service users and according to them the services could be improved if staff recognised and accepted that BPD can be treated; they felt a more positive experience at their preliminary referral would aid further engagement with services; therapeutic relationship endings were dealt with effectively; and when signs of improvement are observed, services should not be removed immediately, as this tends to raise anxiety and discourage future progression (NICE, 2009). Hodgetts et al (2007) studied five people with BPD. The participants were told that DBT was the only treatment for BPD. This raised expectations and anxieties in the service users. Some preferred the structure of DBT, but others would have preferred a more flexible treatment that is adjusted to each individuals needs. Service users each felt differently about individual therapy and group therapy. One participant dropped out of therapy as she found the challenges too much to deal with. The same lady reported that she was turned away from the crisis team as she was already involved in the DBT group; this was another reason for her departure. All of the participants in this study found that the therapeutic relationship is essential, also they appreciated the importance of collaborative working and sharing their experiences (NICE, 2009). Other studies have reported quite high drop out rates from CBT, for example up to 37% (Verheul et al, 2003). It is probable that some patients did not engage because they did not find the therapy useful, but ratings from patients who had at least five sessions of CBT suggest that both the patients and therapists view the experience of therapy to have been a positive one. Even so, some patients simply did not attend. Chapter 3 Discussion and Conclusion This research project has tried to look at research evidence on the efficacy CBT and DBT in the management of Borderline Personality Disorder. This work has been done using the NICE Guideline (2009) as the definitive text. This is because this guideline is main reference document in clinical practice. Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most challenging entities for todays therapist; in fact, this category originated as a repository for patients who fail to improve with ordinary treatment methods and whose particular pathology is most likely to provoke a negative emotional reaction in the therapist. Comfort and effectiveness in the treatment of BPD implies mastery both of ones own emotions and of therapeutic techniques in general. It is not realistic to expect success in every case, and successful treatments are usually long and stormy. Because the BPD diagnosis have common characteristics with schizophrenia, psychoses, anxiety and depression, Gunderson (2001) believes it to be a wastebasket diagnosis, which lacks diagnostic accuracy and strength, and so would only be useful to service users that did not fall into other diagnostic types. It is thought that BPD has responded badly to the treatments, and a lot of health professionals also unfortunately, believe this to be true (Friedel 2004). It seems that overall the non-RCT outcomes suggest that individual therapies are more suitable to people with BPD. Positive outcomes were shown generally, these need to be compared to the RCTs before definite conclusions can be made (NICE, 2009). It seems that the evidence base is fairly poor for therapies of BPD, the studies are minimal, the number of patients are low and the outcomes too numerous, with very little commonalities between studies (NICE, 2009) Giesen-Bloo et al (2006) are critical of DBT, stating that it fails to reduce core symptoms related to deeper personality change. The most difficult problem is that DBT is resource-intensive and expensive. Where it is available, there are usually long waiting lists. However, DBT is the treatment of choice for individuals experiencing severe impulse and self-harming behaviours. 3.1 Strengths and limitations of the review Having never done a substantial piece of work before, I did not realise the amount of work required to achieve it. I was aware of how to narrow down a search, which was needed due to vast amount of information available, but the confusion came as I particularly wanted to look at standard CBT for BPD, which very little research has been done. There was far more research for DBT, and so I decided I would explore this t

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